UCLA’s Williams Institute is hosting its second community listening session for LGBTQ individuals affected by the Los Angeles fires, as new data shows these communities faced significantly worse health outcomes than other survivors.
The meeting at the Main Library in Altadena builds on findings from a rapid needs assessment by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which found LGBTQ respondents reported worse physical and mental health outcomes than non-LGBTQ fire survivors.
The research is particularly significant given Los Angeles County’s substantial LGBTQ population of approximately 665,000 adults, with nearly one in three LGBTQ households already experiencing food insecurity before the fires, according to 2023 Williams Institute research.
Co-principal investigators Brad Sears, a Distinguished Senior Scholar at the Williams Institute, according to the Williams Institute website, and Laurel Sprague are leading the study with researchers Nathan Cisneros and Neko Michelle Castleberry. Their first listening session drew community members seeking to ensure recovery efforts address specific LGBTQ needs.
The upcoming session will provide lunch and free air purifiers to the first 60 attendees, with Spanish interpretation available. The voluntary research aims to document experiences that might be overlooked in standard disaster assessments.
Recovery efforts across the region have mobilized significant resources, with the Pasadena Community Foundation raising $72.4 million through its Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund, including $56 million committed to long-term housing recovery.
“The Impact of the Los Angeles Fires on LGBTQ Communities: Ensuring An Inclusive Recovery” will run on Saturday, September 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Altadena Main Library, Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa Street, Altadena. For more information, call (626) 798-0833 or (310) 267-4382 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ThePasadenaVillage/posts/pfbid02XWWDHc5L4xMrvB7hd7Ui2RsuPFnfUjVsAxJmRZLMSRfSWSWRCMG4S5S9U1gu2G2gl. Participation is free.
